Method and system for displaying braking information

ABSTRACT

A method and system for displaying braking information such as energy dissipation braking information and regenerative braking information. The automobile including an energy dissipation braking system, a regenerative braking system, an energy dissipation braking sensor, a regenerative braking sensor, an energy conversions system, an energy storage unit, an energy storage sensor, a processor, an engine, and/or a display. The processor, energy dissipation braking sensor, and/or the regenerative braking system can acquire and analyze energy dissipating braking data and regenerative braking data in an automobile to determine appropriate braking information for display to a user on the display. Such braking information can include, for example, an energy efficiency rate, and/or an application percentage of the energy dissipation braking system and/or the regenerative braking system. The braking information can also be displayed in various modes to indicate desirable braking applications.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/573,641, entitled “Method and System for Displaying BrakingInformation,” filed on Oct. 5, 2009, the entire disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates to a method and system for displayingbraking information, and more particularly to a method and system fordisplaying energy dissipation braking information and regenerativebraking information.

2. Description of the Related Art

With global energy prices rapidly increasing, consumers and automotivemanufacturers are seeking new and novel ways to reduce energyconsumption costs. For example, the hybrid automobile was created as away to increase the efficiency of the automobile. The hybrid automobileuses both an engine and a motor to accelerate the automobile. To stopthe hybrid automobile, the hybrid automobile uses both energydissipation brakes and regenerative brakes. The regenerative brakesallow the motor to generate energy instead of deplete energy. Thisallows for a partial recapture of energy expended by the motor in movingthe hybrid automobile. One drawback of regenerative brakes, are thatthey are unable in certain circumstances to slow the hybrid automobiledown at a sufficient rate, especially when an extremely short stoppingdistance is required. In such a case, energy dissipation brakes are usedsolely, or in conjunction with the regenerative brakes, to slow thehybrid automobile down. Energy dissipation brakes, however, generally donot recapture energy or do not recapture energy with nearly as muchefficiency as the regenerative brakes. Unfortunately, drivers do notalways maximize the use of regenerative brakes and instead may be proneto underutilizing the regenerative brakes and over utilizing the energydissipation brakes. This leads to reduced energy efficiency of theautomobile, such as the hybrid automobile. Furthermore, the drivers maynot be aware of the inefficient use of the automobile during braking asconventional automobiles do not provide such information.

Thus, there is a need for a method and system for displaying brakinginformation, and more particularly a method and system for displayingenergy dissipation braking information and regenerative brakinginformation, which can promote a more efficient use of the automobile.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a method and system for displaying brakinginformation, and more specifically for displaying energy dissipationbraking information and regenerative braking information, which canpromote a more efficient use of the automobile. The present inventioncan be, for example, an automobile including an energy dissipationbraking system, a regenerative braking system, an energy dissipationbraking sensor, a regenerative braking sensor, an energy conversionssystem, an energy storage unit, an energy storage sensor, a processor,an engine, and/or a display. The processor, energy dissipation brakingsensor, and/or the regenerative braking system can acquire and analyzeenergy dissipating braking data and regenerative braking data in anautomobile to determine appropriate braking information for display to auser on the display.

Such braking information can include, for example, an energy efficiencyrate, and/or an application percentage of the energy dissipation brakingsystem and/or the regenerative braking system. The braking informationcan also be displayed in various modes to indicate desirable brakingapplications. The display of the braking information can thus provideinformation which can improve the user's driving habits to allow him tobrake more efficiently. This can reduce energy consumption of theautomobile and also improve the efficiency of the automobile.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a system for displayingbraking information including an energy dissipation braking sensorgenerating energy dissipation brake data, a regenerative braking sensorgenerating regenerative brake data, a processor receiving the energydissipation brake data and the regenerative brake data, and analyzingthe energy dissipation brake data and the regenerative brake data, and adisplay communicatively coupled to the processor, the display displayingan image in a first display mode or a second display mode based on theregenerative brake data and the energy dissipation brake data.

In another embodiment, the present invention is an automobile includinga hydraulic brake, a hydraulic braking sensor generating hydraulic brakedata from the hydraulic brake, a regenerative brake, a regenerativebraking sensor generating regenerative brake data from the regenerativebrake, a processor receiving the regenerative brake data and thehydraulic brake data, and determining an application percentage of thehydraulic brake based on the hydraulic brake data and an applicationpercentage of the regenerative brake based on the regenerative brakedata, and a display communicatively coupled to the processor, thedisplay displaying an image in a first display mode in a first color ora second display mode in a second color different from the first colorbased on the application percentage of the hydraulic brake, and theapplication percentage of the regenerative brake.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a method fordisplaying braking information for hydraulic brakes and regenerativebrakes including generating hydraulic brake data corresponding to thehydraulic brakes, generating regenerative brake data corresponding tothe regenerative brakes, analyzing the hydraulic brake data and theregenerative brake data, and displaying an image in a first display modeor a second display mode based on the regenerative brake data and thehydraulic brake data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, obstacles, and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the detailed description set forth below whentaken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for displaying braking informationaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a display of vehicle information according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a display of braking information according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a display of braking information according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a display of braking information according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a display of braking information according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 7 is a graph depicting vehicle speed versus distance according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a graph depicting engine speed versus distance according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a graph depicting battery strength of charge over distanceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a graph depicting brake command over distance according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a graph of brake percentage over distance according to anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a process according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Apparatus, systems and methods that implement the embodiments of thevarious features of the present invention will now be described withreference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptionsare provided to illustrate some embodiments of the present invention andnot to limit the scope of the present invention. Throughout thedrawings, reference numbers are re-used to indicate correspondencebetween referenced elements.

As seen in FIG. 1, the present invention includes a system fordisplaying braking information. In FIG. 1, the system is an automobile100, but the system can be, for example, a transportation device, anautomated device or any other type of device which moves and utilizesbraking. The automobile 100 includes, for example, an energy dissipationbraking system 102, a regenerative braking system sensor 104, aregenerative braking system 106, a regenerative braking system sensor108, an energy conversion system 110, an energy storage unit 112, adisplay 116, an energy storage sensor 118, and/or an engine 120.

The energy dissipation braking system 102 is connected to the energydissipation braking sensor 104, the regenerative braking system 106,and/or the processor 122. The energy dissipation braking system 102 caninclude one or more energy dissipation brakes. The energy dissipationbrakes can be, for example, a hydraulic brake, a caliper brake, africtional brake, an engine brake, or any other type of brake whichdissipates energy. For example, if the automobile 100 had four wheels,the energy dissipation braking system 102 can include four hydraulicbrakes. Each of the energy dissipation brakes within the energydissipation braking system 102 can be activated individually orsimultaneously with one or more of the energy dissipation brakes in theenergy dissipation braking system 102. The energy dissipation brakingsystem 102 can be activated when there is an indication that theautomobile 100 should be slowed down. Such an indication can be throughthe processor 122 and/or other devices to indicate that the automobile100 should be slowed down. The energy dissipation braking system 102 canalso be used by itself or in conjunction with the regenerative brakingsystem 106 to slow the automobile 100.

The energy dissipation braking sensor 104 is connected to the energydissipation braking system 102, and/or the processor 122. The energydissipation braking sensor 104 can generate energy dissipation brakedata regarding the operation of the energy dissipation braking system102. The energy dissipation brake data can be collectively for theenergy dissipation braking system 102 or for each of the energydissipation brakes within the energy dissipation braking system 102. Forexample, the energy dissipation braking sensor 104 can detect thetemperature, whether each of the energy dissipation brakes is active orinactive, a length of time each energy dissipation brake is active orinactive, a supplied braking force, and/or any other data relevant tothe operation of the energy dissipation braking system 102. The energydissipation braking sensor 104 can also determine the applicationpercentage of the energy dissipation braking system 102.

The regenerative braking system 106 is connected to the energydissipation braking system 102, the regenerative braking sensor 108, theenergy conversion system 110, and the processor 122. The regenerativebraking system 106 can include one or more regenerative brakes. Forexample, if an automobile has 4 wheels, the regenerative braking system106 can have two regenerative brakes, or four regenerative brakes. Theregenerative brakes can be positioned at any suitable location in theautomobile 100, for example, in the front wheels of the automobile 100,the back wheels of the automobile 100, or on all wheels of theautomobile 100. The regenerative braking system 106 can be used byitself or with the energy dissipation braking system 102 to slow theautomobile 100.

Each of the regenerative brakes within the regenerative braking system106 can be activated individually or simultaneously with one or more ofthe regenerative brakes in the regenerative braking system 106. Theregenerative braking system 106 can be activated when there is anindication that the automobile 100 should be slowed down. Such anindication can be through the processor 122 and/or other devices toindicate that the automobile 100 should be slowed down. The regenerativebrakes can be automatically deactivated, for example, when theautomobile 100 is traveling below a predetermined speed. In oneembodiment, the regenerative brakes are deactivated when the automobile100 is traveling below 6 miles per hour, even when there is anindication that the automobile 100 should be slowed down. In such ascenario, the braking force can be supplied, for example, only by theenergy dissipation braking system 102.

The regenerative brakes can be any type of brakes which regeneratesenergy while braking. Thus, the regenerative brakes recapture some ofthe energy lost while braking. To regenerate the energy, theregenerative braking system 106 can cooperate with the energy conversionsystem 110.

The regenerative braking sensor 108 is connected to the regenerativebraking system 106 and/or the processor 122. The regenerative brakingsensor 108 can generate regenerative brake data regarding the operationof the regenerative braking system 106. The regenerative braking brakedata can be collectively for the regenerative braking system 106 or foreach of the energy dissipation brakes within the energy dissipationbraking system 102. For example, the regenerative braking sensor 108 candetect the temperature, whether each of the regenerative brakes areactive or inactive, a length of time each regenerative brake is activeor inactive, a supplied braking force, and/or any other data relevant tothe operation of the energy dissipation brakes 102. The regenerativebraking sensor 108 can also determine the application percentage of theregenerative braking system 106.

The energy conversion system 100 is connected to the regenerativebraking system 106, the energy storage unit 112, and/or the processor122. The energy conversion system 100 generates energy when theregenerative braking system 100 is activated. For example, when theregenerative braking system 106 is activated to slow the automobile 100,the energy conversion system 100 generates energy. In one embodiment,the energy conversion system 100 is a motor, such as an electric motorin a hybrid vehicle. The motor can operate in a first direction whenmoving the automobile 100. The motor can operate in a second directionwhen generating energy using the regenerative braking system 106.

The energy storage unit 112 is connected to the energy conversion system110, the energy storage sensor 118, and/or the processor 122. The energystorage unit 112 receives and stores the energy generated by the energyconversion system 110. The energy storage unit 112 can also provideenergy to the energy conversion system 110. For example, if the energyconversion system 110 is a motor, then the energy storage unit 112 canpower the motor. The energy conversion system 110 can also provide powerto any other electronic device in the automobile 100. The energyconversion system 110 can also aid in starting the engine 120.

The energy storage sensor 118 is connected to the energy storage unit112 and/or the processor 122. The energy storage sensor 118 detectsenergy storage data. The energy storage data indicates relevantinformation about the energy storage unit 112 such as an amount ofenergy that is stored in the energy storage unit 112, the capacity ofthe energy storage unit 112, a percent utilization of the energy storageunit 112, an energy recharge rate of the energy storage unit 112, and/oran energy depletion rate of the energy storage unit 112.

The display 116 is connected to the processor 122 and can displayvarious type of information as directed by the processor 122. The engine120 is connected to the processor 122 and is used by itself or inconjunction with the energy conversion system 110 to move the automobile100. The engine 120 can be an internal combustion engine, a hybridengine, a natural fuel engine, an ethanol engine, or any other type ofengine that can move the automobile 100.

The processor 122 is connected to the energy dissipation braking system102, the energy dissipation braking sensor 104, the regenerative brakingsystem 106, the regenerative braking sensor 108, the energy conversionsystem 110, the energy storage unit 112, the display 116, the energystorage sensor 118, and/or the engine 120. The processor 122 canactivate and/or deactivate the energy dissipation braking system 102and/or the regenerative braking system 106. The processor 122 can alsoreceive the energy dissipation brake data and/or the regenerative brakedata. The processor 122 can display various types of information on thedisplay 116 related to the operation of the automobile 100. In oneembodiment, based on the energy dissipation brake data and/or theregenerative brake data, the processor 122 can instruct the display 116to display various types of information related to the energydissipation brake data and/or the regenerative brake data.

The display 116 can display, for example, information beneficial to auser in promoting or maintaining an easy approach to braking as opposedto an aggressive approach to braking. During an easy approach tobraking, the user applies pressure to the brake pedal at an earlier timethan the aggressive approach to braking. This allows more time for theautomobile 100 to be slowed down and can increase a usage of theregenerative braking system 106 and reduce a usage of the energydissipation braking system 102. This allows the energy conversion system110 to generate more energy for storage within the energy storage unit112. Since the energy dissipation braking system 102 does not generateenergy which is stored within the energy storage unit 112, the reductionof reliance on the energy dissipation braking system 102 in stopping theautomobile 100 can reduce an amount of energy that is wasted and/or notrecycled.

For example, as seen in FIG. 2, the display 116 can display the vehicleinformation 130. The vehicle information 130 includes wheel icon 132,motor icon 134, engine icon 136, battery information icon 138, brakeicon 140, and/or brake icon 142. The wheel icon 132 can change from afirst display mode when the automobile is stationary to a second displaymode when the automobile is moving. The first display mode can be, forexample, a first color, while a second display mode can be, for example,a second color. In one embodiment, the first color is different from thesecond color.

The motor icon 134 can correspond, for example, to the operation of theenergy conversion system 110 when the energy conversion system 110 is amotor. When the energy conversion system 110 is used to move theautomobile 100, the motor icon 134 can be in a first display mode, andwhen the energy conversion system 110 is being used to recharge theenergy storage unit 112, the motor icon 134 can be in a second displaymode. For example, when the regenerative braking system 106 is inactiveand the energy conversion system 110 is used to move the automobile 100,the motor icon 134 can be in the first display mode. However, when theregenerative braking system 106 is active and the energy conversionsystem 110 is used to recharge the energy storage unit 112, the motoricon 134 can be in the second display mode. By viewing when the energyconversion system 110 is recharging the energy storage unit 112, theuser may be influenced into applying the regenerative braking system 106at an earlier time period to reduce the reliance on the energydissipation braking system 102.

The engine icon 136 can correspond, for example, to the operation of theengine 120 in the automobile 100. When the engine 120 is idling, theengine icon 136 can be in a first display mode. When the engine 120 isnot idling, the engine icon 136 can be in a second display mode. Forexample, when the engine 120 is being revved, the engine icon 136 can bein the second display mode.

The battery icon 138 can correspond, for example, to the operation ofthe energy storage unit 112. The battery icon 138 can be in a firstdisplay mode when the energy storage unit 112 is being depleted. Thebattery icon 138 can be in a second display mode when the energy storageunit 112 is being charged. The battery icon 138 can also be in a thirddisplay mode when the energy storage unit 112 is below a predeterminedenergy threshold. The third display mode can be, for example, a thirdcolor. In the third display mode, the battery icon 138 can also flash orperform other indicia. The battery icon 138 can also display an indicia144. The indicia 144 can be a number indicating a percent charge of theenergy storage unit 112. The indicia 144 can also be a number indicatingan application percentage of the regenerative braking system 106.

The brake icons 140 and 142 can correspond, for example, to theoperation of the regenerative braking system 106. The brake icon 140includes the two brake icons in a front section of the automobiledepicted in the vehicle information 130. The brake icon 142 includes thetwo brake icons in a back section of the automobile depicted in thevehicle information 130.

In another embodiment, the brake icons 140 and 142 correspond to theoperation of the regenerative braking system 106 and/or the energydissipation braking system 102. For example, when the regenerativebraking system 106 is inactive, the regenerative braking system 106 isnot cooperating with the energy conversion system 110 to generate powerfor the energy storage unit 112, and/or the energy dissipation brakingsystem 102 is active, the brake icons 140 and 142 can be in a firstdisplay mode.

The brake icons 140 and 142 can also be in a first display mode when anenergy efficiency rate is below a predetermined energy efficiencythreshold, an application percentage of the energy dissipation brakingsystem 102 is above a first predetermined percentage, and/or anapplication percentage of the regenerative braking system 106 is below asecond predetermined percentage. The energy efficiency rate, theapplication percentage of the energy dissipation braking system 102,and/or the application percentage of the regenerative braking system 106can be calculated, for example, by the processor 122.

The visual displays of the brake icons 140 and 142 can also promote thereduced usage of the energy dissipation braking system 102 and increasethe usage of the regenerative braking system 106. This can improve theefficiency of the automobile 100.

The processor 122 can use the energy data from the energy storage sensor118 to calculate the energy efficiency rate. The energy efficiency ratecan be calculated, for example, by determining the ideal energyregeneration of the regenerative braking system 106 and the energyconversion system 110 during braking of the automobile 100, anddetermining the actual energy regeneration of the regenerative brakingsystem 106 and the energy conversion system 110 during braking of theautomobile 100. In one embodiment, the energy efficiency rate iscalculated by dividing the actual energy regeneration by the idealenergy regeneration. In another embodiment, the energy efficiency rateis calculated by determining the variances from the ideal energyregeneration by the actual energy regeneration.

The brake icons 140 and 142 can be in a second display mode when theregenerative braking system 106 is active, the regenerative brakingsystem 106 is cooperating with the energy conversion system 110 togenerate power for the energy storage unit 112, and/or the energydissipation braking system 102 is inactive. The brake icons 140 and 142can also be in a second display mode when the energy efficiency rate isabove a predetermined energy efficiency threshold, the applicationpercentage of the energy dissipation braking system 102 is below thefirst predetermined percentage, and/or the application percentage of theregenerative braking system 106 is above a second predeterminedpercentage.

In one embodiment, the brake icon 140 corresponds only to the operationof the two individual regenerative brakes in the front of the automobile100, and/or the two individual energy dissipation brakes in the front ofthe automobile 100. In another embodiment, the brake icon 142corresponds only to the operation of the two individual regenerativebrakes in the rear of the automobile 100, and/or the two individualenergy dissipation brakes in the rear of the automobile 100.

In another embodiment, the processor 122 can provide commands orinstructions to the display 116 to display braking information 146 asshown in FIG. 3. The braking information 146 includes a section 148 anda section 150 divided by a line 152. The braking information alsoincludes indicia 154. In one embodiment, the section 148 corresponds tothe actual energy regeneration of the regenerative braking system 106and the energy conversion system 110 during braking of the automobile100, while the section 150 corresponds to the difference between theideal energy regeneration and the actually energy regeneration. Theindicia 154 can correspond to the energy efficiency rate. The section148 can be displayed in a first display mode when the energy efficiencyrate is below a predetermined energy efficiency threshold, and thesection 148 can be displayed in a second display mode when the energyefficiency rate is above a predetermined energy efficiency threshold.

In another embodiment, the section 148 corresponds to the applicationpercentage of the regenerative braking system 106. The section 150 cancorrespond to the application percentage of the energy dissipationbraking system 102. The indicia 154 can be a numerical representation ofthe application percentage of the regenerative braking system 106. Whenthe application percentage of the energy dissipation braking system 102is above the first predetermined percentage and/or the applicationpercentage of the regenerative braking system 106 is below the secondpredetermined percentage, the section 148 can be in the first displaymode. The section 150 or any other portion of the braking information146 can also be in the first display mode. When the applicationpercentage of the energy dissipation braking system 102 is below thefirst predetermined percentage and/or the application percentage of theregenerative braking system 106 is above the second predeterminedpercentage, the section 148 can be in the second display mode. Thesection 150 or any other portion of the braking information 146 can alsobe in the second display mode.

The braking information 146 can consciously or subconsciously cause theuser to strive for a more energy efficient usage of the automobile 100while braking the automobile 100. For example, the user can brake in apattern where the energy conversion system 110 can maximize its energycontribution to the energy storage unit 112. This can involve, forexample, braking at an earlier time period to reduce the usage of theenergy dissipation braking system 102 and increase a usage of theregenerative braking system 106.

In another embodiment, the processor 122 can instruct the display 116 todisplay the braking information 156 as shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG.6. The braking information includes a section 158, a section 160, and asection 164. The section 158 and the section 160 are divided by a line162. The section 158 corresponds to a maximum application percentageavailable for braking using the energy dissipation braking system 102while the section 160 corresponds to a maximum application percentageavailable for braking using the regenerative braking system 106.Depending on the driving conditions, the line 162 may move up or downdepending on the maximum application percentage available for brakingusing the energy dissipation braking system 102 and the maximumapplication percentage available for braking using the regenerativebraking system 106 for the specific driving condition. The section 164includes the section 166 and indicia 170. The section 164 indicates thecombined braking application of the energy dissipation braking system102 and the regenerative braking system 106. The indicia 170 canindicate the energy efficiency rate or any other information related tothe operation of the regenerative braking system 106.

In FIG. 4, the section 164 is below the line 162, meaning that theautomobile 100 is braking only through the regenerative braking system106 and not through the energy dissipation braking system 102. Thus, thesection 164 includes only a single section 166. The distance between thesection 164 and the line 162 indicates an amount of braking availablewhile still using only the regenerative braking system 106 and not theenergy dissipation braking system 102. Thus, the user can still furtherdepress on a brake pedal in the automobile 100 to provide more brakingforce to the automobile 100 and still use only the regenerative brakingsystem 106. In FIG. 4, the section 158 is in a first color, the section160 is in a second color, and the section 166 is in a third color.

In FIG. 5, the user has now depressed further on the brake pedal in theautomobile 100. Now, the section 164 spans the line 174 and is above theline 162. This indicates that the braking force supplied to theautomobile 100 is through both the regenerative braking system 106 andthe energy dissipation braking system 102. The section 164 above theline 162 is the section 168, while the section 164 below the line 162 isthe section 166. The section 164 above the line 162 can be in a fourthcolor.

Furthermore, the indicia 170 is at 100% with the term “over” indicatingthat the energy efficiency rate is at 100%, but that the energydissipation braking system 102 is being used in addition to theregenerative braking system 106. In another embodiment, the indicia 170can be at 75% indicating that the system is not completely efficientsince the energy dissipation braking system 102 is being used inaddition to the regenerative braking system 106, instead of only theregenerative braking system 106.

In FIG. 6, the automobile 100 is traveling below the predeterminedspeed, such as below 6 miles per hour. Thus, the only braking availableis the energy dissipation braking system 102. The regenerative brakingsystem 106 is inactive and not used since the automobile 100 istraveling below the predetermined speed. Since only the energydissipation braking system 102 is used, there is no energy generationfrom the regenerative braking system 106. Thus, the indicia 170 is at0%. Furthermore, the line 162 drops down to the bottom of the brakinginformation 156. Thus, the section 160, and the section 166 in thesection 164, for example, disappears since the regenerative brakingsystem 106 is not being used.

FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 shows the automobile 100 in operation using aneasy approach and an aggressive approach to braking. The brake pedal 100is depressed further in the aggressive approach to braking when comparedwith the easy approach to braking. The easy approach to braking usesmore of the regenerative braking system 106 than the aggressive approachto braking. Thus, similar to FIG. 6, the braking information 156 canconsciously or subconsciously cause the user to strive for a more energyefficient usage of the automobile 100 while braking the automobile 100.

FIG. 7 depicts the speed of the automobile 100 over distance for boththe easy approach and the aggressive approach to braking. As seen inFIG. 7 the brake pedal is depressed at approximately 0.9 km during theeasy approach and at approximately 0.97 km during the aggressiveapproach. In both the easy approach and the aggressive approach, theautomobile 100 comes to a complete stop or nearly a complete stop at0.99 km or a distance slightly less than 1 km. However, the automobile100 decelerates at a much more rapid pace in the aggressive approach.

FIG. 8 depicts the engine speed of the automobile 100 over distance forboth the easy approach and the aggressive approach to braking. In FIG.8, the curve 182 represents the engine speed for the engine 100 usingthe easy approach to braking while the curve 184 represents the enginespeed for the engine 100 using the aggressive approach to braking. Inthe easy approach, the engine speed for the engine 120 drops from over1000 rotations-per-minute (“RPM”) to 0 RPM at approximately 0.9 km, whenthe brake pedal is depressed. This is because during the easy approach,the regenerative braking system 106 is activated and the engine 120 isnot moving the automobile 100 any more. In the aggressive approach, theengine speed drops from over 1000 RPM to 0 RPM at approximately 0.97 km.This is because in the aggressive approach, the brake pedal is notdepressed until 0.97 km.

FIG. 9 depicts a strength of charge for the energy storage unit 112 inthe automobile 100. The strength of charge for the energy storage unit112 using the each approach to braking corresponds to a curve 186, whilethe strength of charge for the energy storage unit 112 using theaggressive approach to braking corresponds to a curve 188. As can beseen in FIG. 9, the curve 186 rises earlier than the curve 188. At theapproximate stopping distance near the 0.99 km distance, the curve 186has a larger value than the curve 188. This indicates that the strengthof charge using the easy approach to braking will generate more energyfor the energy storage unit 112 than the aggressive approach to braking.A greater strength of charge indicates that more energy is beingcaptured and recycled, which improves an overall efficiency of theautomobile 100. Thus, the promotion of the easy approach to brakingusing the processor 122 and/or the display 116 can reduce an amount ofmoney spent on charging the energy storage unit 112, and/or providingfuel for the engine 120. Furthermore, the automobile 100 may producefewer emissions and/or be more environmentally friendly.

FIG. 10 depicts brake command over distance. Curve 190 corresponds to abraking force supplied by the regenerative braking system 106 using theeasy approach to braking while curve 192 corresponds to a total brakingforce supplied using the easy approach to braking. The curves 190 and192 begin at approximately 0.90 km when the braking of the automobile100 begins using the easy approach to braking. The curve 192 overlapswith the curve 190 until very close to the 0.99 km distance where theautomobile 100 stops. This is because for most of the braking of theautomobile 100, only the regenerative braking system 106 is used. Theenergy dissipation braking system 102 is only activated when theautomobile 100 is traveling at close to or below the predeterminedspeed.

Curve 194 corresponds to a braking force supplied by regenerativebraking system 106 using the aggressive approach to braking while curve196 correspond to a total braking force supplied using the aggressiveapproach to braking. The curves 194 and 196 begin at approximately 0.97km when the braking of the automobile 100 begins using the aggressiveapproach to braking and ends at approximately 0.99 km when theautomobile 100 comes to a stop. As can be seen in FIG. 10, the curve 196includes more Newton meters than the curve 194. This is because in theaggressive approach to braking, the energy dissipation braking system102 is used in addition to the regenerative braking system 106 in orderto stop the automobile 100 by the 0.99 km distance. An area 198indicating a difference between the curve 196 and the curve 194corresponds to energy wasted due to the use of the energy dissipationbraking system 102. Since the energy dissipation braking system 102 doesnot recharge the energy storage unit 112, any application of the energydissipation braking system 102 is wasted energy. In contrast, the easyapproach to braking wastes less energy since the energy dissipationbraking system 102 is sparsely used. Thus, by promoting the easyapproach to braking using the processor 122 and the display 116, moreenergy is captured and recycled instead of being wasted.

FIG. 11 depicts a braking percentage of the energy dissipation brakingsystem 102 and the regenerative braking system 106 using the easyapproach and the aggressive approach to braking. The curve 186 depictsthe application percentage of the regenerative braking system 106 duringthe easy approach to braking while the curve 188 depicts the applicationpercentage of the energy dissipation braking system 102 using the easyapproach to braking. As can be seen in FIG. 11, the regenerative brakingsystem 106 is applied at 0.9 km in the easy approach to braking.However, the energy dissipation braking system 102 is not applied untilclose to the stopping distance of 0.99 km.

The curve 190 depicts the application percentage of the regenerativebraking system 106 during the aggressive approach to braking while thecurve 192 depicts the application percentage of the energy dissipationbraking system 102 during the aggressive approach to braking. Theregenerative braking system 106 and the energy dissipation brakingsystem 106 are both applied at approximately 0.97 km when the aggressiveapproach to braking begins. The application percentage of theregenerative braking system 102 decreases to approximately 0% near the0.99 km stopping distance when the automobile 100 is traveling at orbelow the predetermined speed. Conversely, the application percentage ofthe energy dissipation braking system 106 increases drastically tonearly 100% near the 0.99 km stopping distance since the use of theregenerative braking system 102 is discontinued.

In one embodiment, the present invention can also be a process asdepicted in FIG. 12. In Step S1202 energy dissipation brake datacorresponding to the energy dissipation brakes are generated. Forexample, the energy dissipation braking sensor 104 can generate energydissipation brake data from the energy dissipation braking system 102.In Step S1204, regenerative brake data corresponding to the regenerativebrakes are generated. For example, the regenerative braking sensor 108can generate regenerative brake data from the regenerative brakingsystem 106. In Step S1206, the hydraulic brake data and the regenerativebrake data are analyzed. For example, the processor 122, the energydissipation braking sensor 104, and/or the regenerative braking sensor108 can analyze the hydraulic brake data and the regenerative brakedata. In Step S1208 an image is displayed in either a first display modeor a second display mode based on the regenerative brake data and thehydraulic brake data. For example, the display 116 can display thebraking information 130, 146, and/or 156.

The various illustrative logical blocks, units, modules, and circuitsdescribed in connection with the examples disclosed herein may beimplemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digitalsignal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit(ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmablelogic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor,but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with theexamples disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in asoftware module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two.Furthermore the method and/or algorithm need not be performed in theexact order described, but instead may be varied. A software module mayreside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROMmemory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any otherform of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium iscoupled to the processor such that the processor can read informationfrom, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative,the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor andthe storage medium may reside in an Application Specific IntegratedCircuit (ASIC). The ASIC may reside in a wireless modem. In thealternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discretecomponents in the wireless modem.

The previous description of the disclosed examples is provided to enableany person of ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosedmethods and apparatus. Various modifications to these examples will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles definedherein may be applied to other examples without departing from thespirit or scope of the disclosed method and apparatus. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive and the scope of the invention is, therefore,indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription. All changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for displaying braking informationcomprising: a friction braking sensor configured to generate frictionbrake data; a regenerative braking sensor configured to generateregenerative brake data; a processor configured to receive the frictionbrake data and the regenerative brake data and determine a value or apercentage of application of friction braking based on the frictionbrake data; and a display communicatively coupled to the processor, thedisplay configured to display an image showing a first indicator for theregenerative brake data and a second indicator for the value or thepercentage of the application of friction braking.
 2. The system ofclaim 1 wherein the processor determines an energy efficiency rate basedon the friction brake data and the regenerative brake data, and theimage further shows the determined energy efficiency rate.
 3. The systemof claim 2 further comprising an energy storing sensor communicativelycoupled to the processor and configured to generate energy storage datafrom an energy storage unit, wherein the processor determines the energyefficiency rate based on the energy storage data.
 4. The system of claim1 wherein the processor determines a value or a percentage ofapplication of regenerative braking based on the regenerative brakedata, and the first indicator of the image corresponds to the value orthe percentage of the application of regenerative braking.
 5. The systemof claim 1 wherein the image is displayed in a first display mode whenthe regenerative brake data indicate that a regenerative brake is activeand the image is displayed in a second display mode when the frictionbrake data indicate that a friction brake is active.
 6. The system ofclaim 1 wherein the regenerative braking sensor generates theregenerative brake data from an electric motor.
 7. A system fordisplaying braking information of an automobile, the system comprising:an energy dissipation brake that dissipates energy during decelerationof the automobile; an energy dissipation braking sensor configured togenerate energy dissipation brake data corresponding to an operation ofthe energy dissipation brake; a regenerative brake for capturing energyfrom deceleration of the automobile; a regenerative braking sensorconfigured to generate regenerative brake data corresponding to anoperation of the regenerative brake; a processor configured to receivethe energy dissipation brake data and the regenerative brake data, anddetermine a value or a percentage of application of energy dissipationbraking based on the energy dissipation brake data; and a displaycoupled to the processor and configured to display an image showing afirst indicator for the regenerative brake data and a second indicatorfor the value or the percentage of the application of energy dissipationbraking.
 8. The system of claim 7 wherein the processor is configured todetermine an energy efficiency rate based on the energy dissipationbrake data and the regenerative brake data, and the image corresponds tothe energy efficiency rate.
 9. The system of claim 8 further comprisingan energy storing sensor coupled to the processor and configured togenerate energy storage data from an energy storage unit, and whereinthe processor is configured to determine the energy efficiency ratebased on the energy storage data.
 10. The system of claim 7 wherein theprocessor is configured to determine a value or a percentage ofapplication of regenerative braking based on the regenerative brakedata, and the first indicator of the image corresponds to the value orthe percentage of the application of regenerative braking.
 11. Thesystem of claim 7 wherein the image is displayed in a first display modewhen the regenerative brake data indicates that the regenerative brakeis active and the image is displayed in a second display mode when theenergy dissipation brake data indicates that the energy dissipationbrake is active.
 12. The system of claim 7 wherein the image isdisplayed in a first display mode when the value or the percentage ofthe application of energy dissipation braking is less than apredetermined value or percentage, and the image is displayed in asecond display mode when the value or the percentage of the applicationof energy dissipation braking exceeds the predetermined value orpercentage.
 13. The system of claim 7 wherein the energy dissipationbrake is an engine brake, and the regenerative braking sensor isconfigured to generate the regenerative brake data from an electricmotor.
 14. The system of claim 7 wherein the energy dissipation brake isa friction brake and the regenerative braking sensor is configured togenerate the regenerative brake data from an electric motor.
 15. Anautomobile comprising: a hydraulic brake; a hydraulic braking sensorconfigured to generate hydraulic brake data from the hydraulic brake; aregenerative brake; a regenerative braking sensor configured to generateregenerative brake data from the regenerative brake; a processorconfigured to: receive the regenerative brake data and the hydraulicbrake data, and determine a value or a percentage of application of thehydraulic brake based on the hydraulic brake data, and determine a valueor a percentage of application of the regenerative brake based on theregenerative brake data; and a display coupled to the processor andconfigured to display an image showing a first indicator for theregenerative brake data and a second indicator for the value or thepercentage of the application of the hydraulic brake.
 16. The automobileof claim 15 wherein the image is displayed in a first display mode whenthe value or the percentage of the application of the hydraulic brake isless than a predetermined value or percentage and in a second displaymode when the value or the percentage of the application of thehydraulic brake exceeds the predetermined value or percentage.
 17. Theautomobile of claim 15 further comprising an energy storing sensorcoupled to the processor for generating energy storage data from anenergy storage unit, wherein the processor is configured to determine anenergy efficiency rate based on the value or the percentage of theapplication of the hydraulic brake and the value or the percentage ofthe application of the regenerative brake, and the image corresponds tothe energy efficiency rate.
 18. The automobile of claim 15 wherein thehydraulic brake is a friction brake, the regenerative braking sensor isconfigured to generate the regenerative brake data from an electricmotor, and the processor is a powertrain control unit.
 19. A method fordisplaying braking information for hydraulic brakes and regenerativebrakes comprising: generating, using a hydraulic braking sensor,hydraulic brake data corresponding to the hydraulic brakes; generating,using a regenerative braking sensor, regenerative brake datacorresponding to the regenerative brakes; determining, using a processorconnected to the hydraulic braking sensor and the regenerative brakingsensor, a value or a percentage of application of the hydraulic brakesbased on the hydraulic brake data; and displaying, using a display, animage showing a first indicator for the regenerative brake data and asecond indicator for the value or the percentage of the application ofthe hydraulic brakes.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the imageincludes a first portion showing the first indicator and a secondportion showing the second indicator.
 21. The method of claim 19 furthercomprising: generating, using an energy storage sensor, energy storagedata corresponding to an energy storage unit; determining an energyefficiency rate based on the energy storage data, the hydraulic brakedata, and the regenerative brake data; and displaying, using thedisplay, the energy efficiency rate.
 22. The method of claim 19 whereindisplaying the image includes displaying the image in a first displaymode when the regenerative brake data indicate that the regenerativebrakes are active and displaying the image in a second display mode whenthe hydraulic brake data indicate that the hydraulic brakes are active.23. The method of claim 19 further comprising: determining, using theprocessor, a value or a percentage of application of the regenerativebrakes based on the regenerative brake data, wherein the first indicatorof the image corresponds to the value or the percentage of applicationof the regenerative brakes.
 24. The method of claim 19 whereindisplaying the image includes displaying the image in a first displaymode when the value or the percentage of the application of thehydraulic brakes is less than a predetermined value or percentage and ina second display mode when the value or the percentage of application ofthe hydraulic brakes exceeds the predetermined value or percentage. 25.A system for displaying braking information of an automobile, the systemcomprising: an energy dissipation brake that dissipates energy duringdeceleration of the automobile; an energy dissipation braking sensorconfigured to generate energy dissipation brake data corresponding to anoperation of the energy dissipation brake; a regenerative brake forregenerating energy from deceleration of the automobile; a regenerativebraking sensor configured to generate regenerative brake datacorresponding to an operation of the regenerative brake; a processorconfigured to receive the energy dissipation brake data and theregenerative brake data, and determine an energy efficiency percentageor value based on the energy dissipation brake data and the regenerativebrake data; and a display coupled to the processor and configured todisplay an image based on the energy efficiency percentage or value. 26.The system of claim 25 wherein the energy dissipation brake is afriction brake.
 27. The system of claim 25 wherein the processor isfurther configured to: determine an energy regeneration valuecorresponding to an amount of energy regenerated using the regenerativebrake based on at least one of the regenerative brake data or the energydissipation brake data, and determine the energy efficiency percentageor value based on the energy regeneration value and a benchmark energyregeneration value.
 28. The system of claim 25 further comprising: anenergy storage unit for storing at least some of the regenerated energy;and an energy storing sensor connected to the processor and the energystorage unit, and configured to generate energy storage data, whereinthe processor is configured to: determine an energy regeneration valuebased on at least one of the regenerative brake data, the energydissipation brake data, or the energy storage data, and determine theenergy efficiency percentage or value based on the energy regenerationvalue and a benchmark energy regeneration value.